Response of integrated application of nano urea, nano diammonium phosphate and microbial inoculants on yield and economics of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2024 and 2025 at the research farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh to understand the response of integrated application of nano urea, nano diammonium phosphate (DAP) and microbial inoculants on yield and economics of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench.). The experiment was laid out in randomised block design (RBD) with 10 treatments replicated thrice, using the variety CSH24MF. The treatments consisted of different combinations of conventional, nano and biofertilisers applied to the crops such as: control [no nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P), only, potassium (K)] (T1); recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF) consisting of 120–60–40 kg NPK ha-1 (T2), 75 % recommended dose of N and P together with nano urea and nano DAP at 2 mL L-1 of water, respectively (T3); 75 % recommended dose of N and P together with nano urea and nano DAP at 4 mL L-1 of water, respectively (T4); 75 % recommended dose of N and P together with nano urea and nano DAP at 6 mL L-1 of water, respectively (T5); 75 % recommended dose of N and P together with urea and DAP spray at 2 %, respectively (T6); T3 combined with soil application of Azospirillum and phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB) at 2kg ha-1 , each (T7); T4 combined with soil application of Azospirillum and PSB at 2 kg ha-1, each (T8); T5 combined with soil application of Azospirillum and PSB at 2 kg ha-1, each (T9) and T6 combined with soil application of Azospirillum and PSB at 2 kg ha-1 (T10). Among the various treatment combinations, application of 75 % recommended dose of N and P together with nano urea and nano DAP spray at the rate of 6 mL L-1, respectively and soil application of Azospirillum at the rate 2 kg ha-1 and PSB at the rate 2 kg ha-1 (T9) resulted in substantial increase in yield performance. It recorded the highest green fodder yield (335, 295, 270 q ha-1 during 2024 at and 344.67, 310.56 and 279 q ha-1 during 2025 at first, second and third cuts, respectively), corresponding dry matter yield (93.10, 82.50 and 75.15 q ha-1 during 2024 and 93.40, 81.87 and 74 q ha-1 during 2025 at successive cuts) and total green fodder yield. The pooled economic analysis conducted thereafter resulted in highest net returns (₹54062 ha-1), gross returns (₹91712 ha-1) and benefit cost (2.44) throughout both the year of experimentation with treatment T9. Thus, the combined application of nanofertilisers and biofertilisers with conventional fertilisers can be considered as an effective nutrient management approach for boosting crop productivity and profitability.